Brothers aged one and two abducted in stolen car in California

A desperate search was under way for two toddler brothers who were abducted when their babysitter’s car was stolen in southern California.

One-year-old Jayden Cortez and his brother Carlos, two, were in the back seat of the white Honda Accord when it was taken in Cathedral City.

Their father Carlos wrote on Facebook: “My boys are in the car if anyone sees anything plz let me know or the police.

"Please help me out and keep an eye out.”

Cathedral City police said the car was stolen last night when the babysitter stepped out for an errand.

Officers issued an amber alert to trace the children and said the search effort was “all hands on deck”.

Cathedral City is near Palm Springs and about 100 miles south-east of Los Angeles.